I'm steaming toward a S&W 357PP as a backup gun for bowhunting and would like some light load recommendations for familiarization/practice at the range. A couple of folks have offered to load me some but I have no idea what to ask them for.

If you do not already own the Lyman cast bullets handloading manual now is the time to add it to your bookshelf. FWIW I know you're inclined toward the .410 but there is a much wider variety of lighter bullets and light load data available for the .429 (thanks to the cowboy gamesters).

I use 6.5g Bullseye with a 215g cast from Star. This is the load that all my granddaughters (three so far) started on after learning trigger and sight using primer only wax bullet loads. I also use that load as my summer carry load in my Taurus Tracker 425SH4C. That is a 4 inch total titanium 5 shot .41RemMag that weighs in at 24.3oz. Very pleasant to shoot that load in that light weigh.

I use 6.5 grs of Hodgdon Universal with any of the 210/215 gr commercial cast bullets. This makes a very nice to shoot load a bit milder than Crawfish's load.

Hey Crawfish, how are things down around Bragg?

I use 7.0 grains of bullseye with a 200swc.

I've been shooting .41 Magnum since 1979. S&W 57, Blackhawk Ruger, and Marlin 1894S.

My best practice, plinking, fun load is 8.0 grains Unique behind a 200 or 210 grains hard cast bullet.

Same with the Sierra 210 grains JHP.

Works for me.

Although there is a bit more variety in the bullets for the .44 Mag. (I have two), there is a wide variety of .41 Mag. bullets out there, also. Certainly enough to handle anything walking around the U.S.

L.W.

I have one of the M357 PDs and use a load of 8.0 grains of Unique with a Leadhead Bullet Company 230 grain Keith bullet. This load runs 925 from a 4" and I figure it will will do a fine job as a backup while bow, blackpowder or rifle hunting.

8.0 grains of Unique with most any 200-230 grain cast or jacketed bullet works as a great practice or general purpose load.

Bob

I use 8.5gr of Unique behind a 220gr.WFNGC from a LBT mould in most of my .41Magnums including the 357PD. Makes for a good all around packin' load when my OM Ruger Blackhawk is given a rest. I'm thinking about dumping the front sight for a regular ramp, though.

41 RedHawk,
I retired from Bragg Dec 31 2005. Some of the FNGs show up here to play out on my range with some pretty neat stuff. Team leaders have gotten the word that I'm a single malt guy so there is always a gift with the request to use the range. They also know that they are welcome gift or not. Young men with old eyes, such a shame and yet they make you proud.

Son has been staying down in Charlotte a good bit. At least until he got called up. He just got back to LeJeune from 29 Palms. His 96 starts Friday then his window for deployment opens and he will be headed to Iraq. He is with the 4 Combat Engineer Battalion, 4th Marine Division. They got to play with some fun stuff at 29 Palms.

Now that you are retired and have all that spare time, I guess you get to chase the piggys all the time now